Dynamics and structure of hydrogen-bonding glass formers: comparison between hexanetriol and sugar alcohols based on dielectric relaxation

Glassy dynamics in polyalcohols: intermolecular simplicity vs. intramolecular complexity

Using depolarized light scattering, we have recently shown that structural relaxation in a broad range of supercooled liquids follows, to good approximation, a generic line shape with high-frequency power law ω^-1/2. We now continue this study by investigating a systematic series of polyalcohols (PAs), frequently used as model-systems in glass-science, i.a., because the width of their respective dielectric loss spectra varies strongly along the series. Our results reveal that the microscopic origin of the observed relaxation behavior varies significantly between different PAs: while short-chained PAs like glycerol rotate as more or less rigid entities and their light scattering spectra follow the generic shape, long-chained PAs like sorbitol display pronounced intramolecular dynamic contributions on the time scale of structural relaxation, leading to systematic deviations from the generic shape. Based on these findings we discuss an important limitation for observing the generic shape in a supercooled liquid: the dynamics that is probed needs to reflect the intermolecular dynamic heterogeneity, and must not be superimposed by effects of intramolecular dynamic heterogeneity.

Time-scale ordering in hydrogen- and van der Waals-bonded liquids

The time scales of structural relaxation are investigated on the basis of five different response functions for 1,2, 6-hexanetriol, a hydrogen-bonded liquid with a minor secondary contribution, and 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-tetracosane (squalane), a van der Waals-bonded liquid with a prominent secondary relaxation process. Time scales of structural relaxation are derived as inverse peak frequencies for each investigated response function. For 1,2,6-hexanetriol, the ratios of the time scales are temperature-independent, while a decoupling of time scales is observed for squalane in accordance with the literature. An alternative evaluation approach is made on the squalane data, extracting time scales from the terminal relaxation mode instead of the peak position, and in this case, temperature-independent time-scale ratios are also found for squalane, despite its strong secondary relaxation contribution. Interestingly, the very same ordering of response-function-specific time scales is observed for these two liquids, which is also consistent with the observation made for simple van der Waals-bonded liquids reported previously [Jakobsen et al., J. Chem. Phys. 136, 081102 (2012)]. This time-scale ordering is based on the following response functions, from fast to slow dynamics: shear modulus, bulk modulus, dielectric permittivity, longitudinal thermal expansivity coefficient, and longitudinal specific heat. These findings indicate a general relation between the time scales of different response functions and, as inter-molecular interactions apparently play a subordinate role, suggest a rather generic nature of the process of structural relaxation.

The Cooling Rate- and Volatility-Dependent Glass-Forming Properties of Organic Aerosols Measured by Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy

Glass transitions of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) from liquid/semisolid to solid phase states have important implications for aerosol reactivity, growth, and cloud formation properties. In the present study, glass transition temperatures (T_g) of isoprene SOA components, including isoprene hydroxy hydroperoxide (ISOPOOH), isoprene-derived epoxydiols (IEPOX), 2-methyltetrols, and 2-methyltetrol sulfates, were measured at atmospherically relevant cooling rates (2-10 K/min) by thin film broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The results indicate that 2-methyltetrol sulfates have the highest glass transition temperature, while ISOPOOH has the lowest glass transition temperature. By varying the cooling rate of the same compound from 2 to 10 K/min, the T_g of these compounds increased by 4-5 K. This temperature difference leads to a height difference of 400-800 m in the atmosphere for the corresponding updraft induced cooling rates, assuming a hygroscopicity value (κ) of 0.1 and relative humidity less than 95%. The T_g of the organic compounds was found to be strongly correlated with volatility, and a semiempirical formula between glass transition temperatures and volatility was derived. The Gordon-Taylor equation was applied to calculate the effect of relative humidity (RH) and water content at five mixing ratios on the T_g of organic aerosols. The model shows that T_g could drop by 15-40 K as the RH changes from <5 to 90%, whereas the mixing ratio of water in the particle increases from 0 to 0.5. These results underscore the importance of chemical composition, updraft rates, and water content (RH) in determining the phase states and hygroscopic properties of organic particles.

Structure, molecular dynamics, and interactions in aqueous xylitol solutions

Broad-band dielectric relaxation studies of xylitol-water mixture show distinctly different dynamics for distal and central –OH of xylitol molecules and indicates the presence of loose xylitol aggregates.

Contrasting dynamics of fragile and non-fragile polyalcohols through the glass, and dynamical, transitions: A comparison of neutron scattering and dielectric relaxation data for sorbitol and glycerol

BACKGROUND

Glycerol and sorbitol are glass-forming hydrogen-bonded systems characterized by intriguing properties which make these systems very interesting also from the applications point of view. The goal of this work is to relate the hydrogen-bonded features, relaxation dynamics, glass transition properties and fragility of these systems, in particular to seek insight into their very different liquid fragilities.

METHODS

The comparison between glycerol and sorbitol is carried out by collecting the elastic incoherent neutron scattering (EINS) intensity as a function of temperature and of the instrumental energy resolution.

RESULTS

Intensity data vs temperature and resolution are analyzed in terms of thermal restraint and Resolution Elastic Neutron Scattering (RENS) approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of OH groups, which are related to the connecting sites, is a significant parameter both in the glass transition and in the dynamical transition. On the other hand, the disordered nature of sorbitol is confirmed by the existence of different relaxation processes.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

From the applications point of view, glycerol and sorbitol have remarkable bioprotectant properties which make these systems useful in different technological and industrial fields. Furthermore, polyols are rich in glassforming liquid phenomenology and highly deserving of study in their own right. The comparison of EINS and calorimetric data on glycerol and sorbitol helps provide a connection between structural relaxation, dynamical transition, glass transition, and fragility. The evaluation of the inflection point in the elastic intensity behavior as a function of temperature and instrumental energy resolution provides a confirmation of the validity of the RENS approach. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Science for Life" Guest Editor: Dr. Austen Angell, Dr. Salvatore Magazù and Dr. Federica Migliardo.

Role of hydrogen bonds and molecular structure in relaxation dynamics of pentiol isomers

Although the presence of hydrogen bonds determines most properties of associated materials, their role in relaxation dynamics of liquids remains unclear. Very recently Nakanishi and Nozaki [M. Nakanishi and R. Nozaki, Phys. Rev. E 84, 011503 (2011)] proposed a simplified model for the description of the molecular dynamics of H-bonding network and tested its validity for several polyols. The authors concluded that relaxation dynamics is controlled mainly by the number of hydroxyl groups, whereas the role of molecular architecture can be neglected. This conclusion, as demonstrated herein, fails in the case of pentiols. When we take into account the role of molecular architecture for development of H-bonded structures, it is still possible to satisfactorily describe molecular dynamics in polyols with the use of the Nakanishi and Nozaki model.

Fragility versus activation volume: insight into molecular dynamics of glass-forming hydrogen-bonded liquids

In this Brief Report we show that key parameters, the fragility m(p) and activation volume ΔV, which characterize the sensitivity of molecular dynamics near the glass transition to temperature and pressure changes, respectively, reflect molecular properties in a nonequivalent way. Our comparative study of fragilities and activation volumes of isomeric pentiols provides evidence that the parameter m(p) can distinguish different H-bonded structures, even if molecular volumes are similar; however, the value of ΔV recognizes mainly the size of a relaxing molecular unit and correlates to the length scale of molecular cooperativity. Thus there is a striking difference in information given by m(p) and ΔV.

Model of the cooperative rearranging region for polyhydric alcohols

A simplified model of a hydrogen-bonding network is proposed in order to clarify the microscopic structure of the cooperative rearranging region (CRR) in Adam-Gibbs theory [G. Adam and J. H. Gibbs, J. Chem. Phys. 43, 139 (1965)]. Our model can be solved analytically, and it successfully explains the reported systematic features of the glass transition of polyhydric alcohols. In this model, hydrogen bonding is formulated based on binding free energy. Assuming a cluster of molecules connected by double hydrogen bonds is a CRR and approximating the hydrogen-bonding network as a Bethe lattice in percolation theory, the temperature dependence of the structural relaxation time can be obtained analytically. Reported data on relaxation times are well described by the obtained equation. By taking the lower limit of the binding free energy with this equation, the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann equation can be derived. Consequently, the fragility index and glass transition temperature can be expressed as functions of the number of OH groups in a molecule, and this relation agrees well with the reported experimental data.

Systematic study of the glass transition in polyhydric alcohols

We have investigated the glass transitions of trihydric alcohols using broadband dielectric spectroscopy, and compare the results with those previously reported for sugar alcohols. Although a systematic glass transition feature related to molecular size has been reported for sugar alcohols, the essential factor governing this feature is still unclear because the number of carbon atoms (N(C)) and the number of OH groups (N(OH)) per molecule are identical in sugar alcohols. By examining trihydric alcohols (N(C)≠N(OH)), we conclude that N(OH) is dominant for the characteristics of the slow dynamics, such as fragility and glass transition temperature. This result suggests that the topological structure of the hydrogen-bonding network (coordination number) plays an important role in the glass transition of polyhydric alcohols. Furthermore, the orientational correlation factor evaluated using the Kirkwood-Fröhlich theory reveals a similarity in hydrogen bond formation among a variety of polyhydric alcohols. Based on these two experimental results, we discuss a possible physical picture of the glass transition of polyhydric alcohols.

Glassy nature of water in an ultraconfining disordered material: the case of calcium-silicate-hydrate

We present the structural and dynamic nature of water ultraconfined in the quasi-two-dimensional nanopores of the highly disordered calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H), the major binding phase in cement. Our approach is based on classical molecular simulations. We demonstrate that the C-S-H nanopore space is hydrophilic, particularly because of the nonbridging oxygen atoms on the disordered silicate chains which serve as hydrogen-bond acceptor sites, directionally orienting the hydrogen atoms of the interfacial water molecules toward the calcium-silicate layers. The water in this interlayer space adopts a unique multirange structure: a distorted tetrahedral coordination at short range up to 2.7 Å, a disordered structure similar to that of dense fluids and supercooled phases at intermediate range up to 4.2 Å, and persisting spatial correlations through dipole-dipole interactions up to 10 Å. A three-stage dynamics governs the mean square displacement (MSD) of water molecules, with a clear cage stage characteristic of the dynamics in supercooled liquids and glasses, consistent with its intermediate-range structure identified here. At the intermediate time scales corresponding to the β-relaxation of glassy materials, coincident with the cage stage in MSD, the non-Gaussian parameter indicates a significant heterogeneity in the translational dynamics. This dynamic heterogeneity is induced primarily because of the heterogeneity in the distribution of hydrogen bond strengths. The strongly attractive interactions of water molecules with the calcium silicate walls serve to constrain their motion. Our findings have important implications on describing the cohesion and mechanical behavior of cement from its setting to its aging.